A rescheduled meeting of a federal vaccine advisory committee no longer includes votes on which influenza vaccines to recommend to adults and children.
Along with a canceled flu vaccine ad campaign and a postponed meeting to select the strains used in the next flu shot, it’s the latest signal that the new leadership of the federal health agencies no longer views the influenza vaccine as a key item in its public health toolkit.
The meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was originally scheduled for late February. It was postponed to “allow more time for public comment,” according to the committee’s website. The rescheduled meeting is set to take place April 15-16.